SAN FRANCISCO – Five months ago, being at the Super Bowl was the last thing Terrell Williams had on his mind.
The long-time Titans defensive line coach, now in his first year as defensive coordinator with the New England Patriots, had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Wins and losses became secondary to life and death, and he needed prayers from everywhere.
Williams, at Super Bowl LX this week, said he got them from his friends with the Patriots, and he knows he got them from his friends in Tennessee, and beyond.
And, after recently being declared cancer free, he said he's forever grateful.
"The support," Williams said, "it's been unbelievable, really. The (Patriots) staff, everybody in the organization, from equipment to the meal staff to the trainers have been unbelievable. When I first got the news in September, I wasn't thinking about a Super Bowl, I was just hoping to be OK.
"And the people in Tennessee, I've received a lot of support, especially from the players. But then even the staff there – a lot of the people we spent a lot of time with. One of the custodians in Tennessee texted me the other day. That kind of stuff means a lot."
Back in October, the Titans honored Williams with a video tribute at Nissan Stadium during the team's October 19 game against the Patriots, with this message:
"Fans, at this time we would like to recognize former Titans coach, and current Patriots defensive coordinator, Terrell Williams. Terrell is currently battling prostate cancer, and we wish him the absolute best in his fight. Fans, let's hear it for Terrell Williams."
Williams received a nice ovation at the stadium.
Williams, who served six seasons (2018-2023) as defensive line coach with the Titans, was back home undergoing treatments when that game was played, so he wasn't in Nashville.
"But someone told me they did (the video), and I think that was nice," Williams said. "I appreciated my time in Tennessee, and I loved it there. A lot of good friends, a lot of great memories there."
Williams rejoined the Patriots for the Super Bowl after his five-month battle with prostate cancer.
Williams said he was diagnosed with cancer after first thinking he had a stomach illness after throwing up following the team's Week 1 loss to the Raiders. Williams was advised to get checked out by the medical staff, and he was immediately sent to urgent care.
"As they were doing tests, that's when they found out about the cancer," Williams said. "So, thank God that I had the stomach flu because if I didn't it just would have been business as usual."
After some pretty intense chemotherapy sessions, Williams began seeing some improvements.
And, during a phone conversation, he let Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons in on a secret.
"I always call T, text T," Simmons said. "One day we spent like an hour on the phone together, and that's when he told me he probably beat cancer, way before it came out. He told he had two more treatments, and he didn't know if he was going to do them or not.
"The joy I got on the phone with T when he told me that, it was like no other. I am happy he was able to kick cancer's tail."
Williams said Simmons, who wore a light blue T-shirt during Crucial Catch/Intercept Cancer week with the message: "I play for Terrell Williams," is like family.
"I'm going to talk to him, and I'm going to continue to talk to him when he is done playing and when I am done coaching," Williams said of Simmons.
After some good news, Williams has a much better outlook on life.
But he now has a Super Bowl to prepare for.
"I'm happy to be here," Williams said. "And, I really appreciate all the prayers, including all those prayers from Tennessee."
